mwianecki's blog

About 20 able-bodied people are needed to pack up the remaining books at the now closed Bayshore Branch on Main Street in Port Monmouth. Volunteers must be able to bend and pick up books that are shelved from about eye level to the floor, and pack them into boxes. Volunteers must be 14 or older. You do NOT need to make an appointment- just show up!

Library staff will be on hand to provide instruction and supervise. The hours needed are:

Friday, March 15 from 2- 5 pm

Monday March 18, from 11 am – 5 pm.+

FYI: Already, teachers in the public schools in the bay area have chosen several thousands of books for their students. The remaining books will be going to storm-damaged libraries in NJ and to a national charitable organization that distributes books to needy children, through libraries and schools.

The Middletown Disaster Relief Fund, an independent non-profit organization dedicated to helping residents of the Middletown Bayshore affected by Superstorm Sandy with the rebuilding process, will distribute $200,000 of Home Depot grants to assist in the rebuilding process for the most severely affected residents of North Middletown, Port Monmouth, Belford, and Leonardo. Qualifying residents may apply for grants up to $1000. Grant amounts may vary based on number of qualified applications. To qualify for this round of funding, the following criteria must be met:

1. Must be a resident of the affected areas of North Middletown, Port Monmouth, Belford, or Leonardo

2. Must have sustained damage of at least $50,000 to your structure (excluding contents)

3. Home must be primary residence. Rental or investment property are ineligible.

4. Must provide determination letter from Middletown Township stating substantial damage and mandatory compliance under the regulations of NFIP. If applicant does not have flood insurance coverage, a licensed contractor estimate of repairs of $50,000 or more will be required.

Applications will be accepted starting March 1st and the deadline to apply is March 31st. Applications can be downloaded from the fund’s website www.middletownrelief.com Completed applications and supporting documentation must be postmarked by March 31st and sent to the following address:

Middletown Disaster Relief Fund

PO Box 4068

Middletown, NJ 07748

Any questions or inquiries can be made by emailing middletownrelief@gmail.com. Applicants should direct all inquiries to the email address or website and not to Middletown Township or the Mayor’s Office.

“To date, the fund has distributed over $100,000 of assistance to affected residents of North Middletown, Port Monmouth, Belford, and Leonardo. It is our hope that the Home Depot grant provided by the fund will help our most severely affected residents as they now begin the rebuilding process” said MDRF Chairman Tony Fiore. “While every affected home has different needs, the Board believes Home Depot provides the necessary versatility to fill a variety of needs such as building supplies, appliances, and other goods necessary to help fill the gap in the rebuilding process. Home Depot has also been a great community partner by supplying residents of our Bayshore with necessary supplies in the days that followed the storm.”